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are going to have to be creative, willing to try different things, get ideas from our custom- ers, and be nimble. COVID-19 is here to stay, a vaccine is some

time away, and we have to figure out how to balance health, get back to business, and living our lives.

Raizy Goffman L.A. Hunter-Jumper Association

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afety and social distancing during competitions is the big concern for LAHJA, SFHJA, and all horse show

associations. How to adhere to the govern- mental and USEF protocols and open up competitions safely at various venues is a big concern. Another concern is year-end points and medal qualifying and medal finals. There have been many Zoom

meetings with various groups of managers, licensed officials, association board members, etc., to address the problems of “going for- ward”. Most show managers have protocols in place, but are just waiting for L.A. County to give the OK. The other problem is wheth- er it is financially feasible for organizers to hold a horse show with all the protocols, added staff to administer the new rules, and less atendance. Most associations have already soſtened the qualifications for their medal finals. Lots of possible changes will be noticed — masks required except when on a horse, temps taken upon entering the grounds, social distancing, stabling with possibly only trainers and grooms allowed in the stable area, no VIP gathering areas, “show-and-go” rules in effect, times assigned for showing and warming up, and more. The USEF web- site has listings of all the rules that must be enforced. The two biggest challenges for the LAHJA

will be (1) keeping everyone safe and healthy and not adding to a spike in Covid-19 that might lead to another lockdown, and (2) will show managers be willing to take the inten- sive work and financial risk to keep horse shows alive in 2020?

Robert Kellerhouse Galway Downs

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top concern is the seemingly end- less areas of cleanliness we need to address to make sure our riders are

safe for their return. What might be OK for one person could be questionable for anoth- er and even unacceptable for some. It is our goal to achieve success with all. We will be isolating the points of potential collision of groups of people not familiar with one another. At these areas (office, bathroom, food distribution, entrance, wash racks, stables) we intend on concentrat- ing our social distancing efforts. In some cases extreme measures will be required including regular sanitizing and mandated hand-washing and social distancing. People will notice signage and directions

on how the CDC and USEF wants us to act. We will also be taking advantage of the abundance of space at Galway. A beautiful and naturally socially distant venue. The biggest challenge will be trying to

make sure 100 percent of our clients are sat- isfied with our efforts. We will be learning and adjusting to make sure we hit the mark for all on our effort for maximum safety. Horse people are quite familiar with going the extra mile for a biosecure environment. We are used to mitigating the spread of virus like EHV and VS and have responded amazingly in taking on these challenges in the past and I’m confident that these lessons will translate to our own responsibilities in dealing with tamping down COVID-19 and other nasty bugs.

Patti Schooley Inland Empire Hunter-Jumper Association

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he Inland Empire Hunter Jumper Association (IEHJA) recommends to all horse show managers to comply

with county health department regulations related to the “re-opening” of competitive equestrian events. IEHJA sanctions shows in four counties including Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego. Each county sets its own guidelines and regula- tions that must be adhered too.

IEHJA’s main concern in

the restart of the horse show season has to do with competitor, volunteer and show official safety. Do all participants feel safe enough to travel to a show facility aſter almost three months of a “stay at home” order? How can the common-sense health directives to wear a mask, maintain social distancing, sanitizing hands and surfaces and “no contact” food service — come on, we’re horse people... we play in the dirt, we are gregarious, we help our barnmates and our families congregate on the sidelines to cheer us on! IEHJA show managers have worked

extremely hard to address these and other issues that Covid 19 has created. Every horse show participant must make the decision that the virus has been curbed, controlled, or flatened (choose your adverb) and a return to competition is safe. Along with this decision every participant must take personal responsibility to adhere to the rules, regulations and guidelines established by each show manager. In individual show premiums or via social media contacts par- ticipants are requested not to come if they are sick or not feeling well, to wear masks (except while in the arena), wash or sanitize your hands frequently, do not congregate and try to maintain social distancing. Many show managers are supplying masks for those who forget to bring one, provide hand washing and sanitizer at var- ious locations, snack bar food will be pre- packaged with canned or botle drinks avail- able and social distancing will be enforced at the gate as horse will not be allowed to congregate. Some shows will have an estab- lished order of go to prevent congregation of horse and riders. Families and friends will be requested to maintain social distancing on the sidelines. Again, county health regu- lations will apply. These changes are the new normal for

Galway Downs

competitive equine events. Show managers now have the additional job of ensuring par- ticipant compliance — just one more thing to worry about. Competitors may notice that See Comeback, page 32